2019-Wesley-Mission-Annual-Report - Flipbook - Page 27
appreciating
Melissa’s confident
and connected care
“Kiss mummy,” Melissa says,
gently nudging noses with her
bubbly one-year-old Macy.
The little girl scrunches up her
nose and throws her head
back, giggling.
Macy is Melissa’s fourth child, and her first with her
devoted partner Mac, who she describes as her
‘rock’. Other children Jarrad, 11 and Teresa, 13,
were removed from her custody after experiencing
abuse and domestic violence with Melissa’s
previous partner. Rydha, aged six, went to live with
his paternal grandmother.
“I do blame myself for what did happen,” Melissa
admits. “It was not a very good home environment.
He [my ex] was grooming the whole family for what
he wanted to do, to me, domestic violence at that
time was just physical, not mental or emotional. The
children went to my sister’s and she couldn’t handle
Jarrad so then he got moved to my brother’s. Then
allegations got made against my brother so Jarrad
had to move into a foster home.”
Problems resurfaced with Jarrad’s time in foster
care and a decision was made to transfer him to
move in with his dad’s family. However, the plan
didn’t work out and Jarrad has since been returned
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to Melissa’s care with support from Wesley
Mission’s Youth Hope program. Wesley Youth Hope
offers voluntary tailored support to help young
people remain with their families with a renewed
focus on positive growth and development.
The family has been strengthened during the past
year by a hands-on parenting course called
‘SafeCare’, piloted through Wesley Mission’s
Brighter Futures program in Western Sydney.
SafeCare, developed by Georgia State University, is
an evidence-based, behavioural skills training
program for parents of children identified as being
at-risk or who have been reported to child
protection services. It’s about getting back to basics
using the power of ‘touch and talk’ to help parents
to better connect and communicate with their
children.
While Macy is Melissa’s fourth child, both mother
and daughter are now continuing on a path for life,
learning how to grow–together. The journey has also
been one of rebuilding the confidence needed in
herself and her ability to be a mum again.
Caseworkers visit participants in their homes weekly
to help them through the practical side of parenting.
The parent learns transferable skills in preparing a
child for a task, how to prompt better behaviour
during the activity and finally how to wrap things up
through communication techniques. The course has
a key focus on the basics of looking, touching,
talking, feeling and smiling as communication tools
between parent and child.
“It’s about
what you have–don’t take it for granted!”
Melissa said she enjoyed the individualised course
format with its personalised support from her
SafeCare caseworker Sue.
“I didn’t know that there were services out there that
could help you and I had no family support,” Melissa
said. “I’m more aware now of everything, all of her
surroundings, how to keep her safe, how to see the
signs when she’s getting sick and find out if I need
to take her to the doctor or do it at home or if she
needs to go to the hospital.”
Caseworker Sue, who is a mum herself, adds the
change is significant and visible in Melissa’s
confidence since she began the course.
“It’s given you purpose,” she points out to Melissa.
“I think it’s safe to say Mel felt pretty angry about
things. I see her as a much calmer person and lots
more tolerance with Macy.”
“Sometimes the beauty of SafeCare is that for
parents that forget they know they can do it and get
caught up in day to day stuff that goes on–it’s a nice
reminder that they’re doing OK. They’re not only
meeting basic needs but they’re going an extra mile
to interact and be the child’s first teacher really.
The future is certainly brighter now for Melissa and
one where she feels calmer and confident as Macy’s
mum, thanks to SafeCare.
“It’s about appreciating what you have–don’t take it
for granted!,” Melissa said.
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